Man Electrocuted Cutting Bamboo Near Power Line

A tragic accident claimed the life of a man cutting bamboo for a grilled chicken shop when he fell against a power line and was electrocuted. Police received the report at 1:30 PM on July 7, 2569, of a body found along a dirt road near a bamboo grove in Ban Kham subdistrict, Muang district, Nong Bua Lamphu province, approximately 2.5 kilometers from the residential area.

The deceased, identified as Winai, 59 years old, lay with his head turned toward the road and arms extended toward the bamboo stand. His body bore severe electrical burn marks running from top to bottom, with skin peeling away across approximately 20 centimeters. Both his hands were clenched. Near the body, officers found a machete about 50 centimeters long. One freshly cut bamboo stalk lay parallel to the road, while another had fallen across a high-voltage power line. The base of the bamboo had been severed from the root.

The victim's wife, Phuea, tearfully recounted that she had left home before Winai that morning. She knew he was hired to help build a grilled chicken shop for a neighbor and would ride a three-wheeled motorcycle to the job. A neighbor found him dead and called to inform her.

Neighbors explained that Winai had been working on the job for two days and had gone to cut bamboo from a relative's grove surrounding the property. Authorities questioned family members about the cause of death, but they saw it as a tragic accident.

Investigators determined that the bamboo stalk bore signs of electrical contact and charring at its tip. Authorities believe Winai cut the bamboo until it fell and contacted the high-voltage power line, which hangs approximately 10 meters above ground. Because fresh bamboo contains moisture, when Winai attempted to pull the bamboo away from the line, the high-voltage electricity traveled through the wet bamboo, through his body, and into the ground, causing his death. His body was subsequently released to family members for funeral arrangements.